R 168.257 Independent verification; applicability of notice and waiting period procedure.

Rule 7. (1) If the challenger fails to properly assert personal knowledge of a voter’s ineligibility as required by R 168.256(2)(d), the clerk may attempt to independently verify the information but is not required to conduct an independent investigation before rejecting the challenge for failure to meet the statutory requirements for a valid challenge. (2) If a clerk exercises their discretion to independently verify a challenge that failed to satisfy the statutory challenge requirements under section 512 of the act, MCL 168.512, and their investigation reveals reliable information to support the conclusion that the challenged voter may have moved, that reliable information must be used to initiate the sending of a confirmation or cancellation notice in accordance with section 509aa of the act, MCL 168.509aa. (3) The challenge cancellation timeline of 30 days that applies after receiving a valid challenge under section 512 of the act, MCL 168.512, does not apply when a clerk investigates in response to an invalid challenge and independently finds reliable information. Instead, the sending of a confirmation or cancellation notice in accordance with section 509aa of the act, MCL 168.509aa, is required.